The Ferguson Group has reported a 20 per cent rise in turnover to £36m.

The Inverurie company, which specialises in the rental of offshore containers, accommodation and engineering modules for the energy industry, said pre-tax profits were £13.5m for 2009.

Mike Melville, group finance director, said: "The 2009 growth reflects the continuing significant investment we are making in our rental asset fleets both here in the north east of Scotland and at all the overseas locations we operate from.

"Nearly 75 per cent of our revenue now comes from outwith the UK market and we expect this rising trend to continue.

During the next three years Ferguson Group, which employs 150 people, intends to invest around £75m in its fleet and further expansion of its overseas operations.

A new headquarters in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, is also being built.

Melville said: Our main focus will continue to be provision of a wide range of containers and engineering and accommodation modules at the key logistics hubs that we operate from around the world."

A £20m accommodation support vessel is currently being outfitted in Port Glasgow and will be available for charter from September.

Melville added: This is a very exciting period for the Ferguson Group and one in which we expect to continue to build upon the strong internationalisation the Group has already achieved.

"We have made a good start to 2010 and are starting to see increasing demand coming through in all the markets we operate in which underpins the ambitious investment and growth plans we have for the company.